MSP to raise local surgery issue with Cabinet Secretary

A Times Reporter

MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Gillian Martin, is to meet with Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, to discuss concerns the future of the dispensing surgery at Udny Station this month.

Fears among locals for the future of the surgery rose after NHS Grampian decided to undertake a public consultation on the future of six of the area’s rural dispensing surgeries. One of those under consideration that at Udny Station, which also serves residents of Udny Green, Pitmedden, Potterton and Balmedie.

Ms Martin, who has been in consultation with affected residents, and Foveran Community Council, is keen to protect a service that is seen by locals as crucial to the community. This is particularly so in Udny Station which has in recent years lost its shop and hotel.

Ms Martin said: “As a result of hearing the views of my constituents, I have arranged a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison, to discuss the wider issues around the regulations governing pharmacy and surgeries which have precipitated this review.

“Before the meeting I will be engaging with local medical practitioners to get their feedback on the difficulties with the regulations as they see them and I will be relaying them to Ms Robison. Meantime, I urge everyone who uses the service to make their views known on the consultation which is ongoing. If you are not online I understand that there are also paper copies at the surgery.

“I myself will be putting a submission to the NHS Grampian consultation, which will reflect the views of my constituents, and the local practitioners, and I am available to any of you who wish to write to me expressing those views.”

The public consultation can be found online at: http://pcocomplaints.limequery.com/index.php/622358/lang-en